January8, 2014

Madam Speaker, she was a little bitty tiny thing weighing barely over 5 pounds. Four days after Christmas, she was born at 4:25 a.m. Sunday morning, December 29, 2013, in Dallas, Texas. Two days later, on New Year's Eve, Rosalyn Marie Shoemaker came home with her adoptive parents, Kellee and Anthony, and 3-year-old sister, Olivia.

Roz, as she is already nicknamed, is a good sleeper, healthy eater, and a cuddler. Kellee, my daughter, and Anthony, her husband, are model God-fearing parents of strong character and have a compassion for children. Being parents is the hardest and most important role and job. Roz could have none better.

During Christmas, Christians honor the most important child ever born, but in our family, this past Christmas season, we know that unto us a special child was also born. Her name is Roz. My hope and prayer for Roz is that she grows in wisdom and stature and favor with the good Lord.

Roz is our 11th grandchild. Like her ten cousins, she too was born in Texas. Of course she was born in Texas, because that's the rule.